New for Arizona

Dreaming of clear blue skies, warm sunshine and endless opportunity to get outdoors again? If you're planning your spring break to southern Arizona, you can use the "search" function on our recreation map to discover fun things to do near Tucson, Phoenix, Yuma. When you're out hiking in the desert sun, don't forget to bring one of our stylish, sturdy hats. Adventure hats are perfect for beating damaging high-altitude rays, and our wildlife themed hats feature a different desert animal. Shop the Sabino Canyon Bookstore for more desert apparel, as well as guidebooks, maps and everything else you'll need for your vacation in the sun!

The perfect companion for your Arizona adventures is the new edition of the ever-popular Arizona Road & Recreation Atlas from Benchmark Maps. It is a complete recreation guide showing campgrounds, natural areas, forests, parks, golf courses and much more. Detailed recreation maps for Phoenix, Tucson and the Grand Canyon. Highways, roads, cities, towns and even ghost towns! Landscape maps show the varied topography of the Grand Canyon State while public lands maps show lands managed by the different public lands agencies. 106 pages, 2014, $22.95,

About Arizona

Aravaipa Canyon

Ruins in the Grand Canyon Parashant National Monument

Welcome to Arizona

Although Arizona is known throughout the world as the Grand Canyon State, the lands of our state offer an overwhelming array of variety: lofty volcanic peaks, large glittering blue lakes, and forests of distinctive saguaro cactus. The lowest point is 70 feet above sea level, near the Colorado River, and the highest is Humphreys Peak, topping out at 12,663 feet. In between are cactus-covered hills, red stony mesas, grassy plains, sky islands, arid canyons, and lush riparian areas. The history of Arizona is as varied and wonderful as the landscape.

Over the last several hundred years, many different cultures have chosen to call Arizona their home, whether prehistoric civilizations who built villages and farms along the rivers, Spanish conquistadors who built presidios and missions, or 19th century Americans who built Army forts and homesteads. Traces of all these people can be found on public lands, either painstakingly restored or in glorious ruin.

The changes in climate and biomes require the traveler to plan ahead. A visitor may drive through a blizzard in the north down to 80-degree sunny skies in the south. Summertime temperatures under blazing sunshine commonly reach into the hundreds, so wear protective, cool clothing, including a hat, and be sure to bring one gallon of water, per person, per day. The northern part of the state can experience extremely cold temperatures during the winter months, and even in the spring it is advisable to plan for snow and cold weather.

Take some time to explore the wonders of Arizona here at the Arizona Public Lands Information Center. You will discover a wealth of detailed information about where to go and what to do while touring the public lands of this state.

In our Maps & Books section, you can purchase books, maps, and other educational items to make your virtual or real visit truly rewarding. To begin your journey, click on Recreation Search.

For information on lodging, museums, tribal lands, and commercial attractions or services, contact the Arizona Department of Tourism. For information about hunting and fishing regulations and licensing information for Arizona, please contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department.